Image processing system

ABSTRACT

An image processing system of the invention has a reader which reads out an image of an original, a page memory which stores image information of the original in the form of electric signals, a disk memory which stores part or all of the image information in the disk memory and also stores image processing information, an image processing section, a digitizer for the operator to input the image processing information, a CRT which displays input information or corrections in convesation language, a DMA controller, and a printer. The image processing system of the invention is capable of DMA transfer without the intermediacy of a CPU. Fewer addresses are required for readout of the image information from the memory, and high speed image processing is achieved.

This application is a continuation of application Ser. No. 08/027,591,filed Mar. 5, 1993, now abandoned, which was a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 07/668,145, filed Mar. 11, 1991, now abandoned,which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 07/401,482, filed Aug.30, 1989, now U.S. Pat. No. 5,008,760 which was a continuation ofapplication Ser. No. 06/884,677, filed Jul. 17, 1986, now abandoned,which was a continuation of application Ser. No. 06/647,414, filed Sep.5, 1984, now abandoned, which was a continuation of application Ser. No.06/311,864, filed Oct. 15, 1981, now abandoned.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an image processing system forprocessing image information as electric signals.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A photocopying machine for duplicating images of an original is widelyused as a processing system of image information. The system of thistype adopts a general electrophotography device wherein an original isexposed to light emitted by a light source, such as a fluorescent light,the light reflected by the original is guided to a photosensitive bodyto form an electrostatic latent image thereon, and the electrostaticlatent image is visualized according to a known developing means.However, when duplicating only part of an original with a conventionaldevice, undesired portions of the original are masked or cut away forduplication of the desired portion, resulting in inconvenience.

Another type of image processing system has also been proposed whereinthe image of an original is read out to generate corresponding electricsignals which are processed electrically. With this type of system, inaddition to the functions of the system of the former type, other kindsof image processing may be performed such as duplication of part of anoriginal, synthesis of a plurality of images, or variation of thedensity of the image at only part of the original.

For example, it has been proposed to convert the image information of anoriginal into electric signals by a solid image sensor such as a CCD andto electrically process the obtained electric signals, so that part ofthe original may be separated from the rest of the original. For thispurpose, it is possible to limit the area for readout of the solid imagesensor or to store the readout image information in a memory and to readout only the required information from the memory. When a memory isused, once the image information of the original is stored in thememory, the image information may be used for separation of desiredparts, and the efficiency in office work may thus be improved. However,input of the address for outputting the image information stored in thememory is performed by supplying from a keyboard numerical datarepresenting the addresses or by specifying the desired portion of theoriginal displayed on a CRT using a light pen. Numeral setting for inputfrom the keyboard requires a large quantity of address data.

In addition to this, the system of this kind becomes complex instructure, and the operation becomes difficult with an increase in thenumber of functions incorporated therein. This type of system may thusbe operated only by those who are well acquainted with the operatingprocedure, and the image processing time may become very long, alsoresulting in inconvenience.

With a system in which image information is stored once in a memorymeans and the desired image information is accessed, various kinds ofimage processings may be performed. However, since the procedureinvolves storing of the image information in a memory means, the readouttime of the image information from the memory means affects theprocessing time, and counters must also be incorporated for specifyingthe addresses in the memory means. DMA transfer is utilized for thetransfer of the image information. When DMA transfer is utilized,high-speed reading of the image information into and out of the memorymeans may be achieved. However, since the addresses in the memory meansare generally consecutive for each scanning operation, the initialaddress and the final address corresponding to the desired portion ofthe original must be specified corresponding to the number ofsubscanning operations of the image information. This number ofspecifying operations of addresses increases as the image elementdensity is made higher.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an image processingsystem which eliminates the drawbacks of the conventional imageprocessing systems.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an imageprocessing system which is capable of performing high-speed imageprocessing with a simple procedure.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an imageprocessing system which, when storing electric signal representing imageinformation in a memory, is capable of specifying addresses in a memorywith efficiency and of performing the image processing.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide aphotocopying machine which is capable of rearranging different parts ofan original and duplicating the rearranged pattern.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide an imageprocessing system which is capable of reducing the number of addresseswhich are required to read out information from a memory means duringthe DMA transfer to improve the transfer speed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1-1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of an imageprocessing system according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1-2 is a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1-1;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a digitizer 6;

FIG. 3-1 is a view showing in detail a panel of the digitizer shown inFIG. 2;

FIG. 3-2 is view for explaining the method for specifying an area withthe digitizer 6;

In FIG. 3-2, 15-1 is an original record,

15-2 is a stored image of the record,

15-3 illustrates position of a rectangle to surround the selectedportion of the image,

15-4 illustrates the selected image information,

15-5 illustrates a rectangle, the same size as the image informationinto which the image information is moved,

15-6 illustrates the image information in a page memory, and

15-7 illustrates output of the image;

FIG. 3-3 is a flow chart for explaining control of the specifyingprocedure for the area;

FIG. 4 is a view showing the configuration of the screen of a CRT 7;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the format of a command;

FIG. 6 is a view showing an example of image processing;

In FIGS. 6, 6(a) shows original information n₁ stored in a page memory,

6(b) illustrates original information n₂ stored in a page memory, and

6(c) illustrates processed image information n₁ and n₂ stored in a pagememory;

FIG. 7 is a view showing an application buffer;

FIG. 8 is a view showing a control panel 8;

FIG. 9 shows the relationship between FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C,

FIGS. 9A, 9B and 9C show a block diagram of the system shown in FIG.1-1;

FIG. 10 is a block diagram showing the CRT and a digitizer controller12-8;

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a CPU circuit block 12-1;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a reader and printer sequencecontroller 12-4;

FIG. 13 is a block diagram showing a DMA controller 12-2;

FIG. 14 shows a memory map for a multibus;

FIG. 15-1 shows the address map of a page memory circuit block 12-3;

FIG. 15-2 shows part of the address map shown in FIG. 15-1;

FIG. 16 shows the address map of the page memory circuit block 12-3 forthe multibus;

FIG. 17 is a block diagram of the page memory circuit block 12-3;

FIG. 18 shows the relationship between FIGS. 18A, 18B, and 18C,

FIGS. 18A, 18B and 18C show, in combination, a block diagram of a memorycontroller 12-3-1; and

FIG. 19 and 20 show the relationships between FIGS. 19A, 19B, and 19C,and 20A, 20B, and 20C respectively,

FIGS. 19A, 19B and 19C in combination and 20A, 20B and 20C incombination are flow charts showing the operation of the imageprocessing system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1-1 shows the configuration of an image processing system accordingto an embodiment of the present invention. A reader 1 has a line sensor,such as a CCD which, photo-electrically converts for readout the imageinformation of an original. A page memory 2 comprises a semiconductordynamic memory device which stores, in units of pages of the original ofa predetermined size, the electric signals output serially from thereader 1. A printer 3 comprises a laser beam printer which forms animage on a recording medium, such as a paper sheet, based on imageinformation which is stored in the page memory 2 and is serially outputtherefrom. A disk memory 4 stores all or part of the image informationstored in the page memory 2. The image information is transferred fromthe disk memory 4 to the page memory 2. The disk memory 4 also storesimage processing data. An image processing section 5 processes the imageinformation which is output from the reader 1, the image informationstored in the page memory 2, and the image information stored in thedisk memory 4. A digitizer 6 is used by the operator to input imageprocessing data to the image processing section 5. A CRT 7 displays theimage processing data input from the digitizer 6 for allowing input andcorrection of the image processing data by the operator inconversational language. A DMA controller 9 controls DMA transfer of theimage information. An image processing controller 12 comprises the pagememory 2, the disk memory 4, the image processing section 5, and the DMAcontroller 9. A perspective view of the system of this embodiment isshown in FIG. 1-2. An image processing unit 10 comprises the reader 1;the printer 3; and the image processing controller 12 with the pagememory 2, the disk memory 4, the image processing section 5, and the DMAcontroller 9. An image processing data generating unit 11 comprises thedigitizer 6 and the CRT 7. The reader 1 and the printer 3 may beinstalled separately of the image processing section 5 and may beconnected thereto through a transmission line such as an optical fibercable or a metal cable.

When a point on the digitizer 6 is specified with a stylus pen 8, thecoordinate data of the specified point on the digitizer 6 are suppliedto the image processing section 5 which recognizes the image processingdata corresponding to the received coordinate data. From an inputsection 6-1 of the digitizer 6, commands consisting of character,letter, and numeral strings may be input. Recording material or anoriginal may be placed at an original table 6-2 which is shown hatchedin FIG. 2.

FIG. 3-1 shows details of the panel of the digitizer 6. This embodimentwill be described with reference to a case wherein recording material oran original of A4 size is used for the sake of simplicity. The area ofthe original table 6-2 indicated by the hatched area corresponds to theA4 size, and the original is placed thereon in alignment with a standard6-3. In this manner, a one-to-one correspondence is established betweenthe original table 6-2 on the digitizer 6 and image information in thepage memory 2. For selecting part of the image information of theoriginal stored in the page memory 2, the position of this part may bespecified by placing the original on the digitizer 6 and actuallyspecifying the position with the stylus pen 8. The input section 6-1includes commands consisting of character, letter, and numeral strings.For inputting "D", the part surrounding the letter "D" is specified.

A method for specifying a portion of the image information of theoriginal with the digitizer 6 will now be described with reference toFIG. 3-2. FIG. 3-3 shows a flow chart of the control operation of theimage processing section 5 according to the output from the digitizer 6.A duplicate 15-7 as a hard copy is output by processing the imageinformation of an original 15-1 as the basis of the image processing. Inthis example, the character portion of the original 15-1 is selected,and this selected portion is duplicated at the position shown in theduplicate 15-7.

When the power source of the system is turned on, the system is ready tooperate upon operation of a start switch by the operator. The operatorplaces the original 15-1 on the reader 1 and turns the start switch onin step S1. In step S2, the image information of the original 15-1 isread by scanning of the line sensor within the reader 1 and is stored aselectric signals in the page memory 2. An image 15-2 is stored in thepage memory 2. Then, the operator places original 15-1 on the originaltable 6-2 of the digitizer 6. The operator decides on a rectangle whichsurrounds the character portion of the original as shown in the original15-3, and specifies with the stylus pen 8 one (e.g., point a) of thefour corners of the rectangle. In step S3, the X-coordinate and theY-coordinate of the specified point on the digitizer 6 are sensed. Instep S4, a first address of the page memory 2 is set in a RAM accordingto the first coordinate data (x1, y1) of the point a sensed in step S3.The operator then specifies point d opposing the point a of therectangle with the stylus pen 8 on the digitizer 6. Thus, the desiredportion is defined as a rectangle, and its position and size aredetermined by specifying the corners of the rectangle on the digitizer6. In step S5, the X-coordinate and the Y-coordinate of the specifiedpoint d on the digitizer 6 are sensed and the program advances to stepS6. In step S6, a second address of the page memory 2 is set in the RAMaccording to the second coordinate data (x2, y2) of the point d sensedin step S5. In step S7, an arithmetic operation is performed based onthe first coordinate data (x1, y1) and the second coordinate data (x2,y2) to combine these X- and Y-coordinates to obtain coordinate data (x2,y1) and (x1, y2) corresponding to the other corners (points b and c) ofthe rectangle. A third address and a fourth address of the page memory 2are set in the RAM according to the coordinate data thus obtained. Instep S8, the image information stored in the page memory 2 is accessedaccording to the first to fourth addresses corresponding to therespective corners of the rectangle which are set in the RAM, and theaccessed image information is transferred to the disk memory 4. In thismanner, the image information corresponding to the desired portion ofthe original which is stored in the page memory 2 is stored in the diskmemory 4. Image information 15-4 in FIG. 3-2 is stored in the diskmemory 4. In step S9, the contents of the page memory 2 from which theimage information corresponding to the desired portion of the originalhas been transferred are cleared.

The operator then removes the original 15-1 from the digitizer 6, andspecifies the position on the digitizer 6 with the stylus pen 8 at whichhe wants the selected portion of the original. Input of this positiondata 15-5 is performed by specifying one corner (e.g., point e) of arectangle on the digitizer 6 as a standard as shown in FIG. 3-2. Theimage information in the disk memory 4 has been transferred from thepage memory 2. When the image information is stored in the disk memory 4according to the first to fourth addresses which are set in the RAM, thesize of the rectangle is already determined at the index part as anoffset value. Therefore, output of the image information correspondingto the rectangle may be performed by specifying one vertex of therectangle. In step S10, the X-coordinate and the Y-coordinate of thespecified point e are sensed and the program then advances to step S11.In step S11, four addresses corresponding to the four points e to h (thesize of the rectangle defined by the points e to h is the same as thesize of the image information 15-4 in the disk memory 4) are set in theRAM according to the coordinate data sensed in step S10. In step S12,the image information stored in the disk memory 4 is stored in thelocation of the page memory 2 which is specified by the four addresseswhich are set in the RAM in step S11.

Image information 15-6 in FIG. 3-2 is the information which istransferred from the disk memory 4 and stored in the page memory 2. Inthis manner, the image information obtained by selecting the characterportion of the original 15-1 and transferring it to the selectedposition is stored in the page memory 2. When it is discriminated that acopy button is depressed in step S13, the program advances to step S14wherein the image information 15-6 in the page memory 2 is transferredto the printer 3. The printer 3 is then driven to produce a duplicate2-7 as a hard copy. If it is discriminated that the duplicatingoperation is completed in step S15, the program advances to step S16where the duplicating operation is stopped and the system is ready forthe next image processing.

In this manner, four addresses of the page memory 2 storing the imageinformation of the original which correspond to the four corners of therectangle specifying the desired portion of the original can be set inthe RAM by specifying two opposing corners of the rectangle.Furthermore, for transferring the image information in which the size isregistered as an index to the page memory 2, the four addresses of thepage memory 2 corresponding to the four corners of the rectangle may beset in the RAM by specifying as a standard only one corner of therectangle. Therefore, the present invention provides an image processingsystem with which addresses may be specified with efficiency and thedifferent portions of the original may be rearranged and duplicated.

FIG. 4 shows the configuration of a screen of the CRT 7.

The CRT 7 is a 12-inch television monitor (JC-1202DH) manufactured byNEC. An input image region 7-1 on the screen corresponds to the A4 sizeand is displayed in white while a region 7-4 specified by the digitizer6 is displayed in green. An output image region 7-2 also corresponds toA4 size and is displayed in blue while a region 7-5 specified by thedigitizer 6 is displayed in red. An application buffer 7-3 displays theimage processing data input from the digitizer 6. A text buffer 7-6displays the completed application file.

The mode of operation of the image processing system according to thisembodiment will now be described. Essentially, the operation of thissystem may be summarized as desired by image processing of the imageinformation read out from the reader 1 and output of the processed imageinformation from the printer 3. The image processing data for performingthe image processing is stored in the disk memory 4 in advance as aprogram by conversation with the application buffer 7-3 of the CRT 7through the digitizer 6. The image processing is performed according tothe image processing data. The program for the image processing isdefined herein as an application file. As has been described withreference to FIG. 3, it is possible to input the image processing datasimultaneously with the image processing in order to perform imageprocessing in real time.

The image processing section 5 is capable of storing a plurality ofapplication files. Each of these application files is named in twodifferent ways: a numeral of two digits with a combination of anothernumeral and a blank, and 6 letters with a combination of another numeraland a blank.

The image information which is transferred from the page memory 2 andstored in the disk memory 4 according to the image processing data isherein defined as an image file. The disk memory 4 is capable of storinga plurality of image files. Each of these image files is also named intwo different ways: a numeral of two digits with a combination ofanother numeral with a blank, and 6 letters with a combination ofanother numeral and a blank. These two kinds of files may be specifiedduring storage as protected or unprotected. When "W" is input for thefile, it indicates that this file is protected. When "@" is input forthe file, it indicates that this file is unprotected.

The definitions of the commands for the image processing which are inputfrom the digitizer 6 will now be described. The format of a command isshown in FIG. 5, which includes a command character a and a parameter b.The command is defined by one command character (letter) and a parameterof a combination in parentheses of numerals, letters and blanks. Theparameter b is not always necessary and may be eliminated for somecommands.

Various commands will be described below:

Parameters on Image Quality!

As for image quality, half-tone and edge emphasis may be performed. Forspecifying half-tone, dither processing is performed during readout ofthe original. Eight kinds of dither patterns are prepared in accordancewith numerals "1" to "8". The density of the half-tone may thus bespecified by inputting one of the numerals "1" to "8" at the inputsection 6-1 of the digitizer 6. When half-tone is not specified, "@" isinput. For performing edge emphasis, "E" is input from the input section6-1 of the digitizer 6. When edge emphasis is not performed, "@" isinput.

Parameters on Coordinates!

Two parameters, for position and size, are used with the coordinatesindicating the position for selecting the desired portion of theoriginal or the desired location for this selected portion. Theseparameters can be input by specifying with the stylus pen 8 a desiredposition on the original table 6-2 of the digitizer 6. As has beendiscussed hereinbefore, the specified portion is displayed with adifferent color from the background and is also displayed by a numeralof three digits (in units of mm) in the application buffer 7-3 of theCRT 7. The parameters for position represent the standard coordinates(X-coordinate and Y-coordinate) of the desired position, and theparameters for size represent the length in the X and Y directions fromthe standard coordinates.

Parameters for Transfer to Page Memory 2!

As has been described above, the image information of the original fromthe reader 1 and the image information from the disk memory 4 are inputto the page memory 2. For synthesis of these pieces of information, "0"is input from the digitizer 6. If not, "@" is input.

One-character commands will be described below. These one-charactercommands may be input by specifying with the stylus pen 8 the respectivecharacters at the input section 6-1 of the digitizer 6.

M . . . clear the page memory 2

F . . . clear the image file

R . . . read the original

P . . . output from the printer 3

L . . . load the image file in the page memory 2

S . . . store in the disk memory 4 the image information which is in thepage memory 2

E . . . execute the application file

W . . . temporarily interrupt execution of the application file

Q . . . terminate the execution of the application file

A . . . change write protect status of the image file

B . . . change write protect status of the application file

T . . . transfer the application file from the image processing sectionand display it at the text buffer 7-6

Character string commands will now be described below.

"APC transfer" . . . transfer and store the image processing data of theapplication buffer 7-3 of the CRT 7 into the image processing section 5

"TEX transfer" . . . transfer the contents of the text buffer 7-6 to theimage processing section 5

"EDIT" . . . move the cursor on the CRT 7 to the application buffer 7-3

"EXIT" . . . release EDIT, TRACE, POSITION and SIZE

"TRACE" . . . display the contents of the application file on the CRT 7

"ENTER" . . . transfer the contents of the text buffer 7-6 to theapplication buffer 7-3

"DELETE" . . . delete the character above the cursor

"CLR LINE" . . . clear the application buffer 7-3 of the CRT 7

"←" . . . move the cursor to the left by one character

"→" . . . move the cursor to the right by one character

"Screen clear" . . . clear the input image region 7-1 and the outputimage region 7-2 of the CRT 7

"POSITION" . . . Specify input of the position

"SIZE" . . . specify input of the size

An example of image processing using the parameters, one-charactercommands, and the character string commands described above will bedescribed with reference to FIG. 6. In this image processing, a regionn1 of an original a and a region n2 of another original b are selectedand are rearranged as shown in an original c. (The file name of theapplication file of the program for this image processing is 01.0)

The procedure for preparing this application file will now be described.

1) The original a is placed on the original table 6-2 of the digitizer6.

2) "0" and "1" are input to name application file 01.

3) "R" is input to store the original in the page memory 2.

4) "S", "(", "0" and "1" are input to store the image information of theselected region n1 of the original a in the disk memory 4 as the imagefile.

5) "POSITION" is input.

6) Point (A) of the original a in FIG. 6 is specified.

7) "EXIT" is input.

(Steps 5 to 7 are for inputting the position coordinates.)

8) "SIZE" is input.

9) Point (B) of the original a in FIG. 6 is specified.

10) "EXIT" is input.

(Steps 8 to 10 are for inputting the size, that is, the distance fromthe position of point A.)

11) ")" is input to complete the input of the parameters for the imagefile 01.

12) The original a is removed from the original table 6-2 of thedigitizer 6 and the original b is placed thereon instead.

13) "R" is input to store the original b in the page buffer 2.

14) "S", "(", "0" and "2" are input to store the image information ofthe selected region n2 of the original b in the disk memory 4 as imagefile 02.

15) "POSITION" is input.

16) Point (C) of the original b in FIG. 6 is specified.

17) "EXIT" is input.

(Steps 15 to 17 are for inputting the position coordinates.)

18) "SIZE" is input.

19) Point (D) of the original b in FIG. 6 is specified.,

20) "EXIT" is input.

(Steps 18 to 20 are for inputting the size)

21) ")" is input to complete the input of the parameters for the imagefile 02.

22) The original b is removed from the original table 6-2 of thedigitizer 6 and a recording material C is placed thereon instead.

23) "L", "(", "0" and "3" are input to store the image file (content is"0") of file 03 in the page memory 2.

24) "@" and ")" are input to store the image information of the file 03in place of the image information which is already stored in the pagememory 2.

25) "L", "(", "0" and "1" are input to load the image file 01 in thepage memory 2.

26) "0" is input to store the image information in superposition on theimage information already stored in the page memory 2.

27) "POSITION" is input.

28) Point (E) of the recording material C in FIG. 6 is specified.

29) "EXIT" is input.

(Steps 27 to 29 are for inputting the position coordinates.)

30) ")" is input to complete the input of the parameters.

31) "L", "(", "0" and "2" are input to load the image file 02 in thepage memory 2.

32) "0" is input to store the image information in superposition on theimage information already stored in the page memory 2.

33) "POSITION" is input.

34) Point (F) of the recording material C in FIG. 6 is specified.

35) "EXIT" is input.

(Steps 33 to 35 are for inputting the position coordinates.)

36) ")" is input to complete the input of the parameters.

37) "P", "(", "5" and ")" are input to set the number of recordingsheets to 5.

38) "APC transfer" is input to transfer the application file prepared insteps 1 to 37 above to the image processing section 5 and store it inthe disk memory 4.

The image processing data prepared above may be prepared by specifyingthe proper parts on the digitizer 6 with the stylus pen 8. Therefore,the selection and specification of particular portions of an original,and input of the command data for readout and image processing of theimage may be performed on the same digitizer 6. The image processingdata may thus be prepared with the same means. The image processing datawhich is prepared in the manner as described above, that is, theapplication file, is displayed at the application buffer 7-3 of the CRT7. FIG. 7 shows this. Referring to FIG. 7, at the positions representedby squares are displayed numerals of three digits (in units of mm) whichrepresent the X-coordinate and Y-coordinate and which are input byspecifying the point on the original table 6-2 on the digitizer 6 withthe stylus pen 8. For example, if the X-coordinate and the Y-coordinateof the point A of the original a are 98 mm and 63 mm, and the point B ispositioned away from the point A 23 mm in the X direction and 54 mm inthe Y direction, the first line in FIG. 7 becomes

01 RS(01098063023054)RS . . .

The mode of operation of the system with the application file named 01will be summarized.

First, the original a shown in FIG. 6 is read by the reader 1 and theimage information is stored in the page memory 2. The image informationcorresponding to the region n1 among the image information stored in thepage memory 2 is transferred to the disk memory 4 with a file name of01. The second original b shown in FIG. 6 is then read by the reader 1and is stored in the page memory 2. The image information correspondingto the region n2 among the information stored in the page memory 2 istransferred to the disk memory 4 with a file name of 02. Thereafter, animage file with a file name 03 is transferred from the disk memory 4 tothe page memory 2 (in the example of image processing described above,the image file 03 is a white image and the page memory 2 is all-clearedwhen this image file is transferred to the page memory 2). The imagefile 01 is transferred and stored in a region ml of the page memory 2,and the image file 02 is transferred and stored in a region m2 of thepage memory 2. In this manner, the image information which correspondsto one page and which includes the image information n1 and n2 arrangedas shown in FIG. 6C is prepared in the page memory 2.

All the contents of the page memory 2 are output to the printer 3 andthe printer 3 records the contents on five recording sheets. By thefinal input of "APC transfer" from the digitizer 6, the application filefor the image processing as described above is stored and registered inthe disk memory 4 with a file name of 01.

For driving the image processing system with the image processinginformation (application file) which is stored in the disk memory 4, adrive initiating command is input from a control panel 13 at the imageprocessing unit 10 shown-in FIG. 1-2. FIG. 8 shows the details of thecontrol panel 13. A two-digit display 13-1 displays the file name of theapplication file. A count display 13-2 displays the desired number ofduplicates to be printed at the printer 3. A keyboard 13-3 is used forsetting numerals to set the file names and desired number of duplicates.An ENTER key 13-4 is for inputting the numeral set at the keyboard 13-3.An EXCUT key 13-5 is for initiating the execution of the imageprocessing. When a STOP key 13-6 for interrupting the image processingin progress is depressed, the system is placed under the wait statusafter completing the work in progress.

The control panel 13 also has lamps to indicate the status of the imageprocessing unit 10. A lamp 13-7 indicates that the application filewhich is input at the keyboard 13-3 and whose name is displayed at thedisplay 13-1 is not stored or registered in the disk memory 4. A lamp13-8 indicates jamming of recording sheets in the system for feeding therecording sheets in the printer 3. A lamp 13-9 indicates jamming of theoriginal in an automatic original feeder when the automatic originalfeeder is used to automatically feed the original to the reader 1 and toeject the original after readout. A lamp 13-10 indicates that there areno recording sheets left in the printer 3. A lamp 13-11 indicates aninsufficient supply of toner. A lamp 13-12 indicates that the imageprocessing system is not under the wait status. When one or more ofthese five lamps except the lamp 13-11 are lit, the reader 1 and theprinter 3 do not operate. When one or more of these lamps are lit duringoperation, the system is interrupted after the operation in progress iscompleted.

A description will now be made of an example of image processingaccording to the application file prepared in the manner described aboveand stored in the disk memory 4. In this example, the image processingof an application file with a file name 23 is performed and fiveduplicates are produced. Since the image processing information for theimage processing is stored in the disk memory 4 as an application file,the application file 23 in this case is accessed from the disk memory 4and is transferred to a sequence RAM in a CPU of the image processingsection. The desired number of duplicates, 5, is set. The original isset at the reader 1 to complete the preparations for the imageprocessing. Then, the image processing system provides instructions tothe operator for key operation. For inputting the file name of theapplication file, the display 13-1 for display of the application filename flashes. For inputting the desired number of duplicates, the countdisplay 13-2 flashes. The operator may then input the correspondingrequired information. This will be described in more detail below.

1. The display 13-1 for displaying the application file name flasheswith a display of "00".

2. The operator depresses "2" and "3" corresponding to the file name atthe keyboard 13-3.

3. The display 13-1 flashes and displays "23".

4. The operator depresses the ENTER key 13-4.

5. The display 13-1 stops flashing and displays "23". Simultaneously,the count display 13-2 flashes with a display of "00".

6. The operator depresses the desired number of duplicates, "5", at thekeyboard 13-3.

7. The display 13-2 flashes and displays "05".

8. The operator depresses the ENTER key 13-4.

9. The display 13-2 stops flashing and displays "05".

10. The operator depresses the EXCUT key 13-5.

11. The system starts operating.

For performing the image processing according to an application filewhich is already stored in the disk memory 4, the image processing maybe performed without the image processing information generating unitcomprising the digitizer 6 and the CRT 7.

FIG. 9 shows a block diagram of the embodiment shown in FIG. 2 showingthe reader 1, the printer 3, the digitizer 6, the CRT 7, and the imageprocessing controller 12 mainly consisting of the page memory 2, thedisk memory 4, the image processing section 5, and the DMA controller 9shown in FIG. 1-1.

A multibus 12-10 is included in the image processing controller 12. Thecircuit blocks which have priority in using the multibus 12-10 andcontrol the other circuits will be called master function blocks. Thecircuit blocks which do not belong to this category will be called slaveblocks. Four circuit blocks are connected to the multibus 12-10, thatis, a CPU circuit block 12-1, the DMA controller 9, a page memorycircuit block 12-3 with a semiconductor buffer memory, and a reader &printer sequence controller 12-4. Of these, the CPU circuit block 12-1and the DMA controller 9 are master function blocks, and the page memorycircuit block 12-3 and the reader & printer sequence controller 12-4 areslave function blocks. These four circuit blocks are connected to themultibus 12-10 through multibus lines 12-12, 12-13, 12-14 and 12-15.Interruption lines 12-16 to 12-20 are for input of information from theDMA 27 controller 9, the reader & printer sequence controller 12-4, adither controller 12-9, a shift memory 12-5, and the page memory circuitblock 12-3 to the CPU circuit block 12-1. Image information obtained byphotoelectric conversion by two line sensors CCD1 and CCD2 of the reader1 are transferred through image signal lines 12-21 and 12-22. Theinformation on the dither of the image quality processing is output fromthe dither controller 12-9 through a line 12-23. The image informationobtained from the line sensors CCD1 and CCD2 is A/D converted accordingto a predetermined threshold for edge emphasis. This image informationis A/D converted according to the signal from the dither controller 12-9when the half-tone is specified. The transfer of image information whichis processed for these effects and the control information for thisimage processing are transferred through lines 12-24 and 12-25. Thecontrol information and the image signals for one scanning operationobtained from the parallel image signals of the lines 12-24 and 12-25are transferred to.the page memory circuit block 12-3 through a line12-26. A refresh trigger signal line 12-27 is for outputting from theCPU circuit block 12-1 a refresh trigger signal to the dynamic pagememory 2 in the page memory circuit block 12-3. A selection signal forselecting one of two banks of the page memory 2 is supplied through aselection signal line 12-28. An interval signal line 12-29 is fortransmitting an interval signal indicating the interval during which theimage information is input or output from the shift memory 12-5 to thepage memory circuit block 12-3. Ser. image information is output fromthe page memory circuit block 12-3 to the printer 3 through a line12-30. A signal for forcibly turning on a laser to obtain a horizontalhold signal, and a video blank signal for turning on the laser of theprinter 3 in the nonimage region in the case of background scanning, aretransmitted through a signal line 12-31. The coordinate information of aregion of the original specified for half-tone processing by the dithercontroller 12-9, and a signal determining the dither, are transmittedthrough a signal line 12-32. The coordinate information on the digitizer6 is transferred to the CPU circuit block 12-1 through a line 12-23. Thefile information in the disk memory 4 is sent from the CPU circuit block12-1 to a CRT & digitizer controller 12-8 through this line 12-33. Thecoordinate information from the digitizer is input to the CRT &digitizer controller 12-8 through a line 12-34.

A video signal is output from the CRT & digitizer controller 12-8through a video signal line 12-35. Signals to be processed by aprocessor in the reader & printer sequence controller 12-4 aretransmitted through a signal line 12-36. An interface 12-6 convertsoutput signals from various sensors incorporated in the reader 1 and theprinter 3 into forms which allow input to the reader & printer sequencecontroller 12-4. The interface 12-6 also outputs drive signals to amotor, heater, laser and so on. A signal for driving an optical scanningmotor of the reader 1 is transmitted through a signal line 12-37. Asignal from a position sensor in the reader 1 is transmitted through asignal line 12-38. A line 12-39 carries key and display signals from thecontrol panel 13. A line 12-40 is for detection of rotation of thescanner at the printer 3. A line 12-41 is for detection of the lasertemperature for stabilizing the laser. A signal line 12-42 transmits asignal for driving the printer 3 and other signals to various sensors.The page memory circuit block 12-3 has, as the image informationtransfer lines, two lines which are not connected to the multibus 12-10,that is, the line 12-26 for inputting serial image information from thereader 1 and the line 12-30 for outputting the serial image informationto the printer 3; and the line 12-14 connected to the multibus 12-10.Due to this construction, even while image information is input from thereader 1 or output to the printer 3, the CPU circuit block 12-1connected to the multibus 12-10 can execute the operations related toimage processing.

In summary, prior to actually driving the image processing system, imageprocessing information (such as the area of an original to be subjectedto image processing, the nature of image processing, the area of arecording sheet for printout, the file name of the image information forstorage in the image processing section, and the file name of a set ofimage processing information) are specified with the stylus pen 8 on thedigitizer 6 with the CRT 7. Therefore, an image processing system may beprovided which is capable of easily performing image processing withoutrequiring complex hardware and with simple operation, and which iscapable of generating image processing information with a single meansfor specifying the positions of a selected area of the original or forother image processing procedures. Furthermore, a page memory comprisesa semiconductor dynamic memory which stores the image informationcorresponding to one page of the original read by the line sensors ofthe reader 1. Therefore, the image information from the reader 1 may bedirectly input to the memory means without requiring an intermediarymeans such as an intermediate buffer.

The same applies to output of the image information to the printer 3.The reading of the image information in and out of the memory means maybe performed at high speed.

FIG. 10 shows the details of the CRT & digitizer controller 12-8. TheCRT & digitizer controller 12-8 comprises an APPLE II manufactured byAPPLE Co. Ltd. FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of APPLE II. Refer to themanual of the APPLE II for further details.

FIG. 11 shows the details of the CPU circuit block 12-1 shown in FIG. 9.The CPU circuit block 12-1 comprises a single board computer SBC 86/12manufactured by Intel Co. Ltd. FIG. 11 shows a block diagram of the SBC86/12. Refer to the manual of the SBC 86/12 for further details. Thecontrol of the CPU circuit block 12-1 is performed mainly with a CPU8086, and a program for this control is stored in a ROM in advance. Inaddition, as has been described herein-before, the interruption signalsfrom the respective blocks of the image processing controller 12 may beinput through the interruption lines 12-16 to 12-20. The CPU 8086controls the respective blocks by discriminating these interruptionsignals.

FIG. 12 shows the details of the reader & printer sequence controller12-4 shown in FIG. 9. This controller 12-4 comprises a single boardcomputer SBC 569 manufactured by Intel Co. Ltd., and FIG. 12 shows thedetails of this SBC 569. Therefore, refer to the manual of the SBC 569for further details. As has been described hereinbefore, the controller12-4 interrupts the CPU circuit block 12-1 through the interruption line12-17. The CPU circuit block 12-1 may be interrupted so as to provideaccess to the controller 12-4.

FIG. 13 shows the details of the DMA controller 9. An IO processor 9-1has a DMA function and comprises an Intel 8089. The IO processor 9-1 isthe main part of the controller 9. For details of the IO processor 9-1,refer to the manual of the Intel 8089. A bus arbiter 9-2 comprises anIntel 8289 which is coupled to the multibus line 12-13 according to thestatus information from the IO processor 9-1 to acquire priority on themultibus line 12-13. After the use of the multibus line 12-13, the busarbiter 9-2 frees the multibus line 12-13. Refer to the manual of Intel8289 for further details. A bus controller 9-3 comprises an Intel 8288.The bus controller 9-3, after acquiring priority on the multibus line12-13 through the bus arbiter 9-2, inputs or outputs the address anddata signals to the multibus line 12-13 and outputs a memory writecommand MWTC and a memory read command. Since the DMA controller 9 hasthe bus arbiter 9-2 and the bus controller 9-3, it has a master functionwith respect to the multibus line 12-13, that is, it is capable ofaccessing the multibus line 12-13. Therefore, the slave function blockdoes not have these two devices and can only access them through themultibus line 12-13. Refer to the manual of the Intel 8288 for furtherdetails of the bus controller 9-3. A clock generator 9-4 comprises anIntel 8284 which has an external oscillator as input means, and suppliesa clock signal of a predetermined frequency to the IO processor 9-1, thebus arbiter 9-2, and the bus controller 9-3. The clock generator 9-4also receives a memory OR I/O acknowledge signal (response to a write orread signal from the memory or I/O) signal from peripheral equipment asinformation for discriminating when the bus cycle enters the wait stateand for discriminating the release from the wait state, and outputs aready signal according to the received memory OR I/O acknowledge signal.Refer to the manual of the Intel 8284 for further details. An internalbus 9-5 of the controller 9 is a local bus for the multibus line 12-13.The internal bus 9-5 has an address bus of 16 bits, an address space of64 k bytes, and a data bus of 8 bits. An address/data buffer 9-6 has twoaddress/data buffers, one for the multibus line 12-13 and the other forthe internal bus 9-5. The address or data information output from the IOprocessor 9-1 is multiplexed and time-divided. Thus, first the addressinformation is output, and then the data information is output.Therefore, the basic function of the buffer 9-6 is to latch the addressinformation in the address buffer and to transfer or to read in thesubsequently output data information according to whether the outputdata information is a read command or a write command. The addressinformation is already output to the address/data line from the IOprocessor 9-1 at a timing at which an address latch enable signal ALE isoutput from the bus controller 9-3. Therefore, the former buffer latchesthe address information in the address buffer in response to thisaddress latch enable signal ALE.

If the priority on the multibus line 12-13 is already acquired by thebus arbiter 9-2, the bus arbiter 9-2 generates an address enable signalAEN. In response to this address enable signal AEN, the address bufferoutputs the latched address information to the multibus line 12-13. Ifthis address information is for a write command, the IO processor 9-1outputs the address information on the address/data line, and ifpriority on the multibus line 12-13 is already acquired at this point,outputs the information. Then, the bus controller 9-3 outputs a dataenable signal DEN and outputs the data information together with theaddress information to the multibus line 12-13 through the data buffer.Since a switch signal between transmission and reading at this instantis output as a DT/R signal (data transmit-read signal) from the buscontroller 9-3, data information is transferred to the multibus line12-13 in response to this. In the case of a read command, the buscontroller 9-3 does not output a DEN signal, and the data buffer putsthe DT/R signal in the read mode to output the data information for themultibus line 12-13 on the address/data line of the IO processor 9-1.The reading in of this data by the IO processor 9-1 is performed after atransfer acknowledge signal XACK from the accessed memory is confirmed.

The timing for latching the address in the address/data buffer for theinternal bus 9-5 is the same as described above. The address buffer forthe multibus line 12-13 and the address buffer for the internal bus 9-5equally latch the address information output from the IO processor 9-1,irrespective of which bus is to be accessed. However, a signal foroutputting or not outputting is generated in response to the AEN signalfrom the bus arbiter 9-2 only in the case of the multibus line 12-13.Whether or not to enable the output of the data buffer for the internalbus is determined by a peripheral data enable signal PDEN from the buscontroller 9-3. A switch between the transmission and reading isdetermined according to the mode of the DT/R signal from the buscontroller 9-3, as in the case of the data buffer for the multibus line12-13. When the IO processor 9-1 accesses the peripheral units (memoriesand I/Os) in the block, a sync signal generator 9-7 confirms theresponses from these units, so that the IO processor 9-1 may initiatethe next operation only after this confirmation. The clock generator 9-4outputs these response signals as ready signals to the IO processor 9-1in synchronism with the bus cycle of the IO processor 9-1. A ROM 9-8 hastwo 2716 memories with 4 k bytes and stores a microprogram of the IOprocessor 9-1. An I/O part 9-9 has two 8212 devices and controls theperipheral equipment. In this embodiment, the I/O port 9-9 does notcontrol any part and is opened. An address decoder 9-10 decodes part(the upper bits) of the address information of the internal bus 9-5. forgenerating a chip selection signal for selection of the ROM 9-8 or theI/O port 9-9. A disk unit 9-11 of the disk memory 4 is a hard disk unitwhose memory capacity is 10M bytes and which has 350 tracks, one trackhaving 18 sectors and each sector having a capacity of 512 bytes. Thedisk unit 9-11 has a disk controller and interfaces with an 8-bit databus. The model name of the disk unit 9-11 is WDS-10 manufactured by SordComputer Inc. Refer to the manual of WDS-10 for details. An address/dataline 9-12 of the IO processor 9-1 is capable of time-divisionallyoutputting address information and data information on the same line.The address information is output first and the data information isoutput next. The address information and the data information are outputto the internal bus 9-5 through a signal line 9-13. The addressinformation and the data information are output to the multibus line12-13 through a signal line 9-14. A status information signal is outputfrom the IO processor 9-1 to the bus arbiter 9-2 and to the buscontroller 9-3 through a signal line 9-15. A channel attention signal CAas a DMA request signal from the CPU circuit block 12-1 and a systeminterrupt signal SINTR for signalling that the DMA transfer is completedfrom the IO processor 9-1 to the CPU circuit block 12-1 are transmittedthrough a signal line 9-16. This signal SINTR is input to the interruptterminal of the CPU circuit block 12-1. A signal line 9-17 is fortransmitting the address latch enable signal ALE which is output by thebus controller 9-3 to the address/data buffer 9-6 according to thestatus information from the IO processor 9-1, the peripheral data enablesignal PDEN, the data enable signal DEN, and the data transmit/readsignal DT/R. A signal line 9-18 is for outputting the address enablesignal AEN, which is a signal for outputting the latched addressinformation to the multibus line 12-13, to the address/data buffer 9-6,after the bus arbiter 9-2 acquires priority on the multibus line 12-13according to the status signal from the IO processor 9-1. A bus requestsignal and a bus priority signal for use of the multibus line 12-13 aretransmitted through a signal line 9-19. The order of priority of themaster function circuit blocks for using the multibus line 12-13 isdetermined in advance. In this embodiment, the CPU circuit block 12-1has the highest priority and the DMA controller 9 has the second highestpriority. When the bus arbiter 9-2 generates a bus request signal BREQfor the multibus line 12-13, if the CPU circuit block 12-1 with higherpriority is not using the multibus line 12-13, the bus priority-insignal BPRN is returned indicating that the multibus line 12-13 may beused. When the bus arbiter 9-2 confirms this, the bus arbiter 9-2outputs a busy signal representing that the bus is in use. A signal line9-20 transmits the transfer acknowledge signal XACK as a response signalto accessing of the external memory or I/O through the multibus line12-13. A signal line 9-21 transmits a switch signal to accessselectively either an odd bank or an even bank of a memory according towhether the byte information of an odd address is accessed (data isoutput to the upper byte of the data bus) in response to a byte highenable signal BHEN output together with the address information duringaccess of memory by the IO processor 9-1, or the-word information of 16bits at an even address is accessed (byte data at the even address isoutput to the lower byte of the data bus, and byte data at the oddaddress is output to the upper byte of the data bus). A clock signal istransmitted through a line 9-22, and a power on reset signal and amanual reset signal are transmitted through a line 9-23. A ready signalsynchronous with the bus cycle of the IO processor 9-1 is transmittedthrough a line 9-24. A line 9-25 transmits the memory write command MWTCand a memory read command MRDC for outputting the address informationtogether with the data information when accessing the multibus line12-13. A line 9-26 transmits the signal ALE from the bus controller 9-3and a signal S2 which is a signal of status information. As has beendescribed hereinbefore, the address information is latched in theaddress buffer for the multibus and in the address buffer for theinternal bus, irrespective of which of the buffers is accessed.Therefore, it becomes necessary to discriminate if the content latchedin the address buffer for the internal bus is the address informationfor the internal bus. This discrimination is performed by the addressdecoder 9-10 according to the signal S2. The signal S2 is thediscriminating information. When the signal S2 is level at "1", itindicates that the content in the address buffer for the internal bus isthe address information for the multibus line 12-13. If the signal S2 isat level "0", it indicates that the content is the address informationfor the internal bus. This signal S2 is latched by the signal ALE and isheld.

A line 9-27 transmits an I/O read command IORC which is output from thebus controller 9-3 when the IO processor 9-1 accesses data in theinternal bus 9-5 in the read mode, and also transmits an interruptacknowledge INTA signal and the signal ALE which are output from the buscontroller 9-3 when a microprogram is fetched from the ROM 9-8. The syncsignal generator 9-7 generates a discriminating signal to indicate theread mode when the IO processor 9-1 accesses the internal bus 9-5 inresponse to the signal IORC and the signal INTA. The signal ALE is usedfor clocking the sync signal generator 9-7. A line 9-28 is a data bus;one address corresponds to command information, result information anddata information, and another address corresponds to status information.The former three pieces of information are differentiated by being inputand output sequentially by the disk unit 9-11. A line 9-29 is for thetwo pieces of address information described above. A line 9-30 is for acommand busy CBUSY signal which is a discriminating signal for the twoaddresses described above. The timings at which the data is ready aredifferent in the read mode and in the write mode for the commandinformation, the result information and the data information in the diskunit 9-11. Furthermore, the timings at which the data becomes ready aredifferent in the read mode and in the write mode for the statusinformation. Therefore, the signal from the line 9-30 and the signalfrom the line 9-27 are input to the sync signal generator 9-7 in orderto generate four different wait times for the IO processor 9-1. A line9-31 is for the ready signal described above. A line 9-32 is for a datarequest signal DREQ which indicates that the disk unit 9-11 is ready andan external terminate signal EXT which indicates the completion of theDMA transfer. A line 9-33 is a data bus line (8 bits) for the I/O port9-9. A line 9-34 is for the upper significant bits of the addressinformation for generating a chip selection signal of the ROM 9-8 andthe I/O, and a line 9-35 is for the lower significant bits of theaddress information which represents the address in the ROM 9-8. A line9-36 is a data signal line for an instruction code fetched from the ROM9-8, which is output on the data line. A line 9-37 is for a chipselection signal for the I/O port 9-9, and a line 9-38 is a chipselection signal for the ROM 9-8.

The flow of information during the DMA transfer in FIG. 13 will bedescribed based on the above description.

1) The CPU circuit block 12-1 supplies calls for channel attention tothe IO processor 9-1 through the line 9-16.

2) The IO processor 9-1 accesses the dual port RAM in the CPU circuitblock 12-1 through the lines 9-12 and 9-14 to obtain the mode andaddress information for the DMA.

3) The IO processor 9-11 accesses the page memory 2 through the lines9-12 and 9-14.

4) The 16-bit data on the multibus line 12-13 which is read out from thepage memory 2 is retrieved in the IO processor 9-1 through the multibusline 12-13 and the lines 9-14 and 9-12.

5) The IO processor 9-1 fetches the upper significant 8 bits of the16-bit data in the disk unit 9-11 through the lines 9-12 and 9-13, theinternal bus 9-5, and the line 9-28.

6) The IO processor 9-1 retrieves the lower significant 8 bits in thedisk unit 9-11 through the same route as in step 5).

7) Steps 3) and 6) are repeated until the signal EXT is output to thesignal SINR.

8) A signal SINR from the line 9-16 interrupts the CPU circuit block12-1 to signal the completion of the DMA transfer.

In this manner, the image information is DMA transferred between thepage memory 2 and the disk memory 4 (disk unit 9-11). The DMA controller9 for control of the DMA transfer has a master function to control themultibus 12-10, according to which the page memory 2 in the page memorycircuit block 12-3 as the slave function circuit block may be accessed.Therefore, the CPU circuit block 12-1 can execute other operationsrequired for image processing during the transfer of the image transfer.

Between the two circuit blocks with the master functions, that is, theCPU circuit block 12-1 and the DMA controller 9, the CPU circuit block12-1 has the priority to use the multibus 12-10. Therefore, even if theDMA controller 9 requests the DMA transfer which involves the use of themultibus 12-10, the DMA transfer is prohibited if the preprocessing bythe CPU circuit block 12-10 using the multibus 12-10 for the imageprocessing and operation of the respective parts is not completed. Thecompetition on the multibus 12-10 due to signals from a plurality ofblocks may be prevented.

Memory Space of the Multibus!

The memory maps in the four circuit blocks related to the multibus 12-10will be described. The CPU circuit block 12-1 includes a 32-k byte dualport and an 8-k byte ROM as a program memory of the CPU 8086. The pagememory 2 has a capacity to read the image of an A4 size document at 12pel/mm, that is, 8,709,120 bits (725,760 words when 12 bits are 1 word).The reader & printer sequence controller 12-4 has a dual port RAM whichhas a capacity of 2 k bytes. These memories are all memory-mappedmemories and can be accessed from the multibus line 12-13 by the memorywrite command MWTC and the memory read command MRDD. The internal bus ofthe reader & printer sequence controller 12-14 also has a 4 k byteprogram memory ROM for the CPU 8085 and has the slave function for themultibus line 12-13. Therefore, an address from the CPU 8085 is notoutput to this multibus line 12-13.

The DMA controller 9 has, on its internal bus 9-5, a 4-k byte ROM whichis a program memory for the IO processor 9-1. The memory is an I/Omapped memory. Therefore, even if the IO processor 9-1 accesses thisROM, its address is not output on the multibus line 12-13 and it is notpossible to access this memory from the multibus line 12-13.

FIG. 14 shows the memory map related to the multibus line 12-13. Theaddress space of the multibus line 12-13 is a memory-mapped memory spaceof 1 M byte from 00000 to FFFFF one address corresponding to 1-bytedata. 8 k byte from FE000 to FFFFF of this address space is the programmemory space for the CPU 8086 in the CPU circuit block 12-1. The pagememory 2 has a capacity of 725,760 words, as has been describedhereinbefore, which is 1,451,520 bytes. This buffer memory space exceedsthe memory space of 1 M byte. Therefore, the buffer memory space isdivided into two banks, each having an address space of 725,760addresses. The switching between both banks is performed by thehardware, that is, in response to the signal (line 12-28 in FIG. 9) fromthe CPU circuit block 12-1. The space for the bank 0 corresponds to0A000 to BB2FE and the space in the bank 1 corresponds to 0B300 toBC5FF. The main purpose of the dual port RAM of 2-k byte capacity in thereader & printer sequence controller 12-4 is for communication betweenthe CPU 8085 within the block and the CPU 12-1. The address space of08000 to 087FF is assigned for this RAM. Since this RAM has a 64-k bytespace as the address space for the CPU 8085 to access this RAM, the CPU8085 provides the same addresses of 08000 to 078FF.

The 8-k byte capacity of the 32-k byte dual port RAM in the CPU circuitblock 12-1 is used for communication between the CPU 8086 within thisblock and the DMA controller 9, and 06000 to 07FFF are allocated as theaddress space. The addresses for accessing this space from the CPU 8089are different and are FF800 to FFFFF. Thus, 06000 corresponds to FF800and 07FFF corresponds to FFFFF. When the addresses FF800 to FFFFF areinput to the CPU circuit block 12-1, the address codes are converted to06000 to 07FFF through the ROM in a hardware manner. To the remaining 24k byte of the dual port RAM are assigned addresses 00000 to 05FFF as theaddress space.

The memory space for the multibus 12-10 has been as described above. Tothe address space of the 4k byte ROM in the reader & printer sequencecontroller 12-4 are assigned addresses 00000 to 00FFF as thememory-mapped memory. To the address space of the 4k byte ROM in the DMAaddress controller 9 are allocated 00000 to 00FFF as the I/O mappedmemory.

Structure of Page Memory!

FIG. 15-1 shows the address map of the page memory 2 in the page memorycircuit 12-3. The page memory 2 has a function to store informationobtained by decomposing the image information of A4 size (288 mm×210 mm)into 12 picture elements per 1 mm. The direction of the main scanning ofthe original with the reader 1 is the longitudinal length, 288 mm. Sincethe image information is divided into 12 picture elements per 1 mm andis output from the CCD, picture elements of 3,456 picture elements areinput to the page memory 2 per one scanning operation. The direction ofscanning is the transverse direction, 210 mm. Since there are 12scanning lines per 1 mm, 2,520 scanning operations are performed forscanning one A4 size original. The memory capacity is 8,709,120 bits.Therefore, the picture elements of 3,456 bits are serially input 2,520times per A4 size document.

Assignment of addresses and storage of the image information thus inputwill now be described. The original is divided into unit square blocksof 1 mm×1 mm. This unit block is defined as a memory block and the A4size original is thus constituted with 60,480 blocks. The memory blockcontains 12 bit×12 line, that is, 144 bit image information. When 12bits are regarded as one word and are assigned one address, the memoryblock consists of picture elements having 12 addresses. The entirememory space has 725,760 addresses from 0 to 725,759 addresses, thusproviding addresses 00000 to B12FF in the HEXA code. The 3,456-bitserial image information corresponding to one scanning line is dividedinto 12-bit picture elements corresponding to 1 mm. The first pictureelement group is stored in the address 00000, the next 12-bit pictureelement group is stored in the address 0000C. The subsequent pictureelement groups are stored in addresses 00018, 00024, . . . , and thelast 12-bit picture element group of the first scanning line is storedin the address 00D74. In this manner, the image information obtained byone scanning line is divided into 12-bit picture element groups andthese picture element groups are stored in every 12th addresses. Whenthe 3,456-bit serial image information for the next scanning line isinput, it is divided into 12-bit picture element groups as in the caseof the image information of the first scanning line. Each of the pictureelement groups is stored at every 12th address from the address 00001 tothe address 00D7F. In the similar manner, the image information for theoriginal 288 mm in length and 1 mm in width is stored in the consecutiveaddresses, 00000 to 00D7F addresses. The 3,456 bit image information forthe 13th scanning line is also divided in a similar manner and is storedin every 12th address from 00D80 address. The image information isstored in this manner, and the last 12 bits of the 2,520th line isstored in the address B12FF.

When the storing method in addresses as described is adopted, the entireA4 original is stored in the consecutive addresses in units of squareshaving dimensions of 1 mm×1 mm. Therefore, the image processing area maybe specified by the digitizer 6 in units of mm. For this reason, thespecified area can be filed in the disk memory 4 by the DMA transfer, byonly setting the initial address and the final address, and at highspeed without the use of CPU.

By specifying a pair of an initial address and a final address, theimage information for 12 main scanning lines may be DMA transferred.Selection of the image information of 1 mm width may be performed byspecifying the initial address and the final address once. Therefore,setting of addresses for DMA transfer may be reduced in number and thetransfer may be achieved at high speed. This is more effective forselection of particular portion of the image information. Since theaddresses are continuous from the right side to the left side of theimage, the address setting by the CPU may be reduced to 20 times for theselection of an area which is 20 mm in vertical direction.

Since the address corresponds to the image in units of mm, the addresssetting may also be performed in units of mm, which is quite convenientfor the operator. In this embodiment, since line sensors which arecapable of reading 12 bits per 1 mm are used, one address corresponds to12 bits. However, this number of bits may be varied depending upon thecapacity of the line sensor. Furthermore, it is also possible to set theaddresses in units other than mm such as inch to obtain the similareffects. Setting of the initial address for each line in the page memory2 is accomplished by setting by the CPU the initial value in the addresscounter. When outputting the image information from the page memory 2 tothe laser beam printer 3, the image information is read out from every12th address from the initial address as in the case of input.

An example of DMA transfer of information of a desired area from thepage memory 2 to the disk memory 4 will now be described with referenceto FIG. 15-2.

As has been described hereinbefore, the transfer of the imageinformation between the page memory 2 and the disk memory 4 is performedby the DMA transfer. When a need for DMA transfer arises, the imageprocessing section 5 sends a DMA request signal to the DMA controller 9.In response to this signal, the DMA controller 9 outputs a hold commandto the image processing section 5. By the hold command, the imageprocessing section 5 becomes disconnected from the multibus.

The DMA controller 9 starts transfer of the image information withoutthe intermediacy of the image processing section 5, according to theinitial address and the final address on the page memory 4 which are setin advance based on the image processing information generated by thedigitizer 6. Since the image information has consecutive addresses, whenthe initial address and the final address are specified once by theimage processing section 5 prior to the DMA transfer, the informationbetween these two addresses is transferred at high speed and withoutintermediacy of the image processing section. When the storing methodaccording to the memory map as shown in FIG. 15-1 is used, whentransferring the required portion of the image information from the pagememory 2 to the disk memory 4, the image processing section 5 specifiesthe initial address and the final address for DMA transfer once. Then,the image signals corresponding to the 12 main scanning lines of theline sensor, that is, the image information of 1 mm width aretransferred from the page memory 2 to the disk memory 4. According tothe structure of the address map in the page memory 2, consecutive 12addresses (e.g., 00000 to 0000B) are assigned to every unit square blockof 1 mm×1 mm of the original, and the initial address of the adjacentblock in the main scanning direction is the next address (e.g., 0000C)of the last address (e.g., 0000B) of the preceding block. Therefore, thereadout of the image information from the page memory 2 is performed foreach picture element group in units of blocks. Thus, the imageinformation corresponding to 12 scanning lines is output by specifyingthe initial address and the final address once.

FIG. 15-2 shows part of the address map of the page memory 2 shown inFIG. 15-1. A description will be made of a case wherein the imageinformation stored in the addresses indicated by hatched lines in FIG.15-2 is transferred. The initial addresses of the desired portion areX1, X2, X3 and X4, and the final addresses are Y1, Y2, Y3 and Y4. Whenthe image processing section 5 specifies the addresses X1 and Y1 at thefirst address setting, the image information in the unit blocks startingfrom the address X1 is read out and the adjacent unit blocks are readout to the address Y1. The first DMA transfer is thus completed. Whenaddresses X2 and Y2 are set by the second address setting by the imageprocessing section 5, the image information in the unit blocks startingfrom the address X2 is read out and the adjacent unit blocks are readout to the address Y2. The second DMA transfer is thus completed. In asimilar manner, the image information stored at the addresses indicatedby the hatched lines is DMA transferred by the third address setting ofthe addresses X3 and Y3 and the fourth address setting of the addressesX4 and Y4. In this manner, the image information corresponding to 12scanning lines may be read out by setting the initial address and thefinal address once.

According to the storing method according to the address map of thepresent invention, the DMA transfer may be performed at high speed andthe time required for image processing may be reduced to the minimum.

DMA transfer from the disk memory 4 to the page memory 2 will now bedescribed. As in the case of the DMA transfer as described above, theimage information corresponding to the 12 scanning lines is transferredby one address setting operation. When outputting the selected imageinformation at the same position as the original, the address obtainedwhen inputting the image information from the reader 1 to the pagememory 2 may be used. However, when transferring the selected imageinformation to a different position, the addresses must be convertedinto those on the address map of the page memory 2 corresponding to thedesired position. An address converter is incorporated in the pagememory 2 for this purpose. The image signals output from the disk memory4 are converted into the required addresses and are stored in the pagememory in units of square blocks of 1 mm×1 mm.

In this manner, the image information selected from the original isstored in the page memory 2, and this image information is thentransferred to the printer 3. In this case, the opposite operation tothe address assigning operation for sending the image information fromthe reader 1 to the page memory 2 is performed. The image signals forevery 12th address is read out by the address counter from the pagememory 2 and is output serially through a 11-bit parallel-in serial-outshift register. In this manner, the serial image signals for onescanning line are input to the printer 3 which produces a duplicatebased on the received image information.

Since the original is stored in the page memory in units of squareblocks of 1 mm×1 mm, a desired portion of the original may be selectedin units of 1 mm.

In this embodiment, the number of the picture elements read out by theline sensor is 12 bits. However, the present invention is by no meanslimited to this particular construction. Furthermore, if the number ofpicture elements for 1 mm increases, a predetermined number of addressesmay be assigned in units of 1 mm×1 mm, so that the DMA transfer of theimage information of 1 mm width may be performed upon one addresssetting operation. In this embodiment, the address map of the imagememory consists of square blocks of 1 mm×1 mm dimensions. However,similar effects may be obtained with the unit blocks of otherdimensions.

FIG. 16 shows the address map when the page memory 2 is viewed from themultibus 12-10. The address space of 00000 to 5897F in FIG. 15corresponds to bank 0, and the address space of 58980 to B12FFcorresponds to the bank 1. These address spaces correspond to addressspaces OA000 to BB2FE and OB300 to BC5FE. The multibus 12-10 has a16-bits dat bus and a 20-bit address bus. The area which may be accessedwith these buses is limited to 1 M byte. Therefore, 8-bit data numbering1M may be accessed. Since 16-bit data involves two addresses, 16-bitdata may be input or output only when an even address is accessed in theword mode. For this reason, as may be seen from FIG. 16, consecutiveaddresses are assigned for every other address. The real addresses inthe page memory 12-3 are the addresses, shown in FIG. 15. Therefore, thepage memory 2 has a circuit to convert the address in the page memory 2from the multibus with the addresses shown in FIG. 16 into the addressesshown in FIG. 15 in a hardware manner. With this address convertingcircuit, the address region of the page memory 2 may be set at anyaddress space.

FIG. 17 shows the contents in the page memory 12-3. As may be seen fromFIG. 17, the page memory 12-3 consists of five circuit units of a memorycontroller 2-1, a memory A2-2, a memory B2-3, a memory C2-4 and aterminator 2-5. These five units are all connected by the internal bus2-6. The memory controller 2-1 is also connected to the multibus line12-14, so that the page memory 12-3 may be accessed from the multibusline 12-14 as a slave function. A bank switch signal is supplied to theCPU circuit block 12-1 through a line 12-28. Serial image information isinput from the shift memory 12-5 through a line 12-26, and image signalsare output to a laser drive of the printer 3 through a line 12-30. Thememories A2-2, B2-2 and C2-3 and 16-k dynamic RAMS have a capacity of256 words when 12 bits are one word. Since these memories compriseIM1440IMG manufactured by Nissei Electronics Co., Ltd., refer to themanual for IM1440IMG. To the internal bus 2-6 are connected the addresssignal line, the data signal line, the memory status signal line (memorybusy), and the acknowledge signal line. Table 1 shows the addresses ofthe memories A2-2, B2-3 and C2-4 accessed from the multibus line 12-14,and the address of the internal bus converted by the memory controller4-1.

                  TABLE 1    ______________________________________             Multibus Memory             Bank     Address      Internal Bus Memory    ______________________________________    Memory A2-2             0        0A000 to 89FFE                                   00000 to 3FFFF    Memory B2-3             0        8A000 to BB2FE                                   40000 to 5897F             1        OB300 to 59FFE                                   58980 to 7FFFF    Memory C2-4             1        5A000 to BC5FE                                   80000 to B12FF    ______________________________________

FIG. 18 shows the circuit diagram of the memory controller 2-1 in thepage memory 12-3. 12-bit shift registers 2-1-1 and 2-1-2 are ofserial-in parallel-out type. This image information of 3,456 bits perserial scanning line from the CCD on a line 2-1-4 is transmitted througha 12bit write data line 2-1-3. A line 2-1-5 is for a clock signal forserially inputting a selection signal of the register 2-1-1, 12 bits ofthe image information on the line 2-1-4, an output enable signal forparallel output of 12-bit information on the line 2-1-4, and an outputenable signal for parallel output of 12-bit information to the line2-1-3. A line 2-1-6 is for a control signal for the register 2-1-2 whichhas the same function as the line 2-1-5. Based on a write sync signal(at the head of the serial signals of each line) synchronous with theimage signal from the CCD and the write clocks, a write timing generator2-1-7 selects the register 2-1-1 and supplies clocks to this register.Then, the initial 12 bits of the image information corresponding to onepage which is input continuously is input to the register 2-1-1.Thereafter, the write timing generator 2-1-7 selects the register 2-1-2for the next 12-bit image information. The write timing generator 2-1-7supplies clocks to this register to input this image information in thisregister 2-1-2. While the image information is input to the register2-1-2, the write timing generator 2-1-7 supplies an output enable signalto the register 2-1-1 to make it output the stored image information tothe memory input line 2-1-3.

The write timing generator 2-1-7 generates the timing signals to thelines 2-1-5 and 2-1-6 and so that the content in the register 2-1-2 isparallel output while the data is serially input to the register 2-1-1and the content of the register 2-1-1 is parallel output while the datais serially input to the register 2-1-2. With this construction, theserial image information from the reader 1 corresponding to one page maybe parallel input to the memory without any stop. At the timing at whichthe data is parallel output from the register to the line 2-1-3, theaddress of the memory for storing the data must be on the address busline of the internal bus 2-6. For this reason, the write timinggenerator 2-1-7 generates clock pulses to the line 2-1-8 which arecounted up to provide the desired address at the timing at which thevalue of the address counter 2-1-9 reaches the timing of the paralleloutput. Thus, 12 clock pulses must be generated for each interval duringwhich the data is output alternately between the two shift registers2-1-1 and 2-1-2 so that this address changes 00000, 0000C, 00018, and soon. The write timing generator 2-1-7 must also generate a memory writesignal to the control bus line of the internal bus 2-6 at the timing atwhich the data is output on the line 2-1-3. Therefore, the 12bit shiftregisters 2-1-1 and 2-1-2 are parallel-in serial-out shift register of12 bit capacity which parallel inputs the 12-bit parallel imageinformation read out from the memory and which serially outputs it tothe line 2-1-14. During serial output of the information stored in theregister 2-1-12 based on the read horizontal hold signal (a beam detectsignal in the laser beam printer) and a read clock, a read timinggenerator 2-1-15 generates a load signal for reading out data on theline 2-1-13 and for loading the readout data in the register 2-1-lli andalso generates a clock signal for shifting the loaded data aftercompletion of serial output from the register 2-1-11 and for serialinput of the data on the line 2-1-14.

For reading the data on the line 2-1-13, an address must be available tothe address line of the internal bus 2-6. Thus, clock pulses aregenerated to the line 2-1-18 so that the address counter 2-1-9 reachesthe value of the desired address prior to the output of the data to theline 2-1-13. Thus, 12 clock pulses must be generated for each intervalduring which the data is output alternately between the two shiftregisters 2-1-11 and 2-1-12 so that this address may change 00000,0000C, 00018, and so on. The read timing generator 2-1-15 must alsogenerate, to a line 2-1-19, a memory read signal on the control bus lineof the internal bus 2-6 at the timing at which the address is output. Anaddress converter 2-1-20 comprises a ROM which converts the multibusaddress into the internal bus address as in Table 1. When the buffermemory 2 is accessed through the multibus line 12-14 by the DMAcontroller 9, the address information is supplied to a line 2-1-21together with the bank switch signal. Then, the address converter 2-1-20outputs, to a line 2-1-22, a selection signal representing which of thememories A2-1, B2-2 and C2-3 is selected based on the receivedinformation; it outputs, to a line 2-1-24, a signal to enable thesesignals to be on the control bus line of the internal bus only when thepage memory 2 is accessed. In this case, the data information of themultibus line 12-14 is output through a line 2-1-25 at the same timingas that of the address information. During memory write, the datainformation is output through the line 2-1-3 to the data bus line of theinternal bus 2-6. During memory readout, the data on the data bus lineof the internal bus 2-6 is output through the line 2-1-25 to the databus line of the multibus line 12-14.

As has been described hereinbefore, for inputting the serial imageinformation from the CCD, initial addresses such as 00000, 00001, 00002to 0000B are present in the address counter 2-1-9 by the CPU circuitblock 12-1 through the multibus line 12-14. The preset value is obtainedon a data line 2-1-27 through the line 2-1-25. The signal obtained bydecoding this address is input to the line 2-1-26 as a chip selectionsignal of the address counter 2-1-9.

An IO write command on the control bus of the multibus line 12-14 issupplied to a line 2-1-28 to be gated by the chip selection signal. Whenthe chip selection is made, the data on the line 2-1-3 is parallelloaded to the address counter 2-1-9 according to this command signal.After the initial value is loaded, the address counter 2-1-9 countsclock pulses from the line 2-1-8 or 2-1-18. As in the case of theaddress converter 2-1-20, the memory selection signal is output from theaddress counter to the line 2-1-22 and the address in the memory isoutput to the line 2-1-23. The memory write command signal and thememory read command signal are output to the line 2-1-30 when the CPUcircuit block 12-1 or the DMA controller 9 accesses the memory. Onlywhen the signal of the line 2-1-24 is gated and the page memory 2 isaccessed, the command signal is output to the line 2-1-31. A memorywrite/read signal is output to a line 2-1-32 when one signal is outputto one of the lines 2-1-10, 2-1-19 and 2-1-31. A line 2-1-33 is for amemory busy signal MB (indicates that the memory is in the read or writeoperation) which is output from the memories A2-1, B2-2 and C2-3 to thecontrol bus line of the internal bus 2-6, and for a memory cycle enablesignal MCE (indicates that the memory is in the read, write, or refreshoperation). When a refresh trigger signal is received from the CPUcircuit block 12-1, a refresh controller 2-1-35 confirms that thissignal is neither of the signals MCE and MB and then outputs, to a line2-1-34, 128 refresh pulses of about 500 nsec period, which is sufficientfor refreshing.

In this manner, the competition between the refresh pulses and thepulses for memory access in the dynamic memory may be prevented.

In summary, according to the present invention, an image processingsystem is provided which is capable of high speed image processing withease.

FIGS. 19 and 20 are flow charts of the operation of the image processingsystem of the present invention. FIG. 19 shows the operation of the CPU8085 of the reader & printer sequence controller shown in FIG. 12, whichis set to the ROM of the reader & printer sequence controller. FIG. 20shows the operation of the CPU 8086 of the CPU shown in FIG. 11, whichis set to the ROM of the CPU.

When the system is turned on, the program of the CPU 8086 advances tostep S201 and waits for an interruption (A) from the CPU 8085 throughthe interruption line 12-17.

The CPU 8085, in step S101, reads through the interface 12-6 theapplication file name and the desired number of duplicates which areinput as numerical information through the control panel 13 shown inFIG. 8. The CPU 8085 writes the information in the RAM of the reader &printer sequence controller. Thereafter, the program advances to stepS102 to wait for the operation of the EXCUT key 13-5 of the controlpanel 13.

When the EXCUT key 13-5 is depressed by the operator, the CPU 8085advances to step S103 and waits for an interruption (B) by addressingfrom the CPU 8086.

When the EXCUT key 13-5 is in operation, the CPU 8085 interrupts (B) theoperation of the CPU 8086. When the CPU 8086 discriminates theinterruption (B) in step S201, it advances to step S202. In step S202,the CPU 8086 reads out the file name of the desired application filewritten in the RAM of the reader & printer sequence controller andwrites it in the RAM of the CPU. In step S203, the directory of the filename of the application file for the image processing, which is storedand registered in the disk memory 4 in advance, is loaded in the RAM ofthe CPU. In step S204, it is discriminated if the desired applicationfile is present in the directory.

When the desired application file is not present, the program advancesto step S205 wherein an error code is written in the RAM of the reader &printer sequence controller. The program then returns to step S201 towait for another interruption (A). The CPU 8086 also interrupts (B) theCPU 8085 simultaneously as it writes the error code.

When the CPU 8085 receives this interruption (B) in step S103, the CPU8085 advances to step S104. In step S104, the CPU 8085 searches for thecode in the RAM of the reader & printer sequence controller. Since instep S105, the error code is determined to be written in the RAM, theCPU 8085 advances to step 106. The APC display 13-7 of the control panel13 indicating that the application file of. the input file name is notregistered is lit. Then, the program returns to step S101 to wait foranother key input.

On the other hand, if the desired application file name is in thedirectory, the CPU 8086 advances to step S206. In step S206, theapplication file stored in the disk and corresponding to the input filename is loaded in the RAM of the CPU. The program advances to step S207to sequentially read the character strings of the application file. Insteps S208 to S212, the one-character commands and the sequentially readcarriage return signals of the application file are discriminated andcorresponding processing is performed.

In step S208, the carriage return signal is discriminated. The carriagereturn signal is a carriage return command signal for display of theapplication file at the application buffer 7-3 of the CRT 7. After acarriage return as a result of the discrimination in step S208,subsequent carriage return signals are invalid and only the carriagereturn signal at the end of the image file is effective. Thus, in stepS208, it is discriminated if the readout of the image file is completed.

If a carriage return signal is discriminated in step S208, the programadvances to step S213 wherein the end code of the readout of theapplication file is written in the RAM of the reader & printer sequencecontroller. The program then returns to step S201 to wait for anotherinterruption.

Simultaneously with the writing of the end flag of readout, the CPU 8086interrupts (B) the CPU 8085.

When the CPU 8085 discriminates the interruption (B), it advances tpstep S104 wherein it searches for the code in the RAM of the reader &printer sequence controller. Since there is no error code, reader drivecode, or printer drive code in this case, the program returns to stepS101 through steps 105, 107 and 108 to wait for another key input.

If the one-character command read out next is "R" which indicates thereadout of the original, the CPU 8086 advances from step S209 to stepS214. In step S214, the CPU 8086 writes the reader drive code in the RAMof the reader & printer sequence controller.

Simultaneously with the writing of the reader drive code, the CPU 8086interrupts (B) the CPU 8085.

When the CPU 8085 discriminates the interruption (B), it advances tostep S104 to search for the code in the RAM. Since the reader drive codeis written in the RAM, the program advances from step S107 to step S118wherein the reader drive motor forward on command is output to thescanning motor drive of the printer 3 to start readout of the original.When it is confirmed in step S119 that the scanning of the original withthe reader has been completed at a reverse position, the forward driveof the reader drive motor is turned off in step S120 and a backward oncommand is output. The CPU 8085 also sets the reader drive end flag inthe RAM of the reader & sequence controller. The CPU 8085 alsointerrupts (C) the CPU 8086. When the CPU 8085 confirms in step S121that the reader has returned to the home position, the CPU 8085 turnsoff the reader drive motor in step S122. The program then advances tostep S103 to wait for another interruption (B). When the CPU 8086discriminates the interruption (C) and confirms, in step S212, that thereader drive end flag is set in the RAM of the reader & printer sequencecontroller, the program returns to step S207 and reads the subsequentcharacter strings.

If the one-character command readout is "P" which indicates the outputby the printer, the CPU 8086 advances from step S210 to step 216 andwrites the printer drive code in the RAM of the reader & printersequence controller.

Simultaneously with the writing of the printer drive code, the CPU 8086interrupts (B) the CPU 8085.

When the CPU 8085 discriminates the interruption (B), the programadvances to step S104 to search for the code in the RAM. Since theprinter drive code is written in the RAM, the program advances from stepS108 to step S109. Steps S109 to S117 are for the known printingoperation. That is, in step S109, the forward rotation for preparationof printing is performed. When it is discriminated in step, S110 thatthis forward rotation is ended, the recording sheet is fed in step S111.After a predetermined period of time elapses in step S112, the programadvances to step S113 wherein the output of the image information forone page which is stored in the page memory 2 is instructed. The printer3 performs the printing operation according to this image information.

When the CPU 8085 discriminate that the printing operation for one pageis ended in step S114, the program advances to step S115. In step S115,it is discriminated if the printing operation for the desired number ofduplicates written in the reader & printer sequence controller is ended.If the desired printing operation is not ended, the program returns tostep S111 to repeat the printing operation. If the desired printingoperation is ended, the program advances to step S116 to set the printend flag in the RAM of the reader & printer sequence controller.

Simultaneously with setting of the printing flag, the CPU 8085interrupts (D) the CPU 8086. In step S117, the backward rotation cycleis performed. Then, the program returns to step S103 and waits foranother interruption (B) from the CPU 8086.

When the CPU 8086 discriminates the interruption (D) and confirms, instep S217, that the print end flag is set in the RAM of the reader &printer sequence controller, it returns to step S207 to read thesubsequent character strings.

If the one-character command read out is "S" which instructs the storageof the image information from the page memory 2 into the disk memory 4,the CPU 8086 advances to step S218. In step S218, the CPU 8086 reads thetwo characters after "(" of the character string as the file name of theimage file and the subsequent numeral as the information on the positionand size as described above, and calculates the address of the pagememory 2 from these values. The program then advances to step S219, andit DAM-transfers and stores the image information of the page memorycorresponding to the address region set in step S218 in the disk memory.The program then returns to step S207 to read the subsequent characterstrings.

If the one-character command read out is "L" which instructs loading ofthe image file in the page memory 2, the program advances from step S212to S220. In step S220, the two characters after "(" of the characterstring are read out as the file name of the image file, and thesubsequent numeral is read out as the position information. In stepS221, the index part of the image file of the file name read out in stepS220 is loaded in the RAM of the CPU from the disk memory. Then, in stepS222, the address to which the image file of the page memory is to betransferred is calculated based on the size information of the indexloaded in the RAM and the position information read out in step S220. Instep S223, the image file of the file name read out in step S220 isloaded in the address region calculated in step S222. The program thenreturns to step S207 and reads the subsequent character strings.

What we claim is:
 1. An image processing apparatus comprising:scan meansfor scanning an image of an original; recording means for recording theimage on a recording material; output means, having a coordinate inputplane corresponding to the original, for outputting coordinateinformation representative of a desired area of the original that isspecified with a pointing device; and display means for, in accordancewith the coordinate information output from said output means,displaying numerical coordinates indicating the position of the desiredarea of the original specified with the pointing device, and alsographically displaying the desired area of the original defined by thecoordinate information, wherein said recording means records on therecording material the image in the desired area of the original whichis numerically and graphically displayed on said display means.
 2. Animage processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said displaymeans graphically displays outlines of the original and the desired areaof the original.
 3. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said display means distinguishes in color the desired area fromareas other than the desired area.
 4. An image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said display means displays an area to berecorded by said recording means.
 5. An image processing apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said recording means comprises a laserbeam printer.
 6. An image processing apparatus according to claim 1,wherein said display means comprises a monitor.
 7. An image processingmethod comprising the steps of:scanning an image of an original;recording the image on a recording material; outputting coordinateinformation representative of a desired area of the original that isspecified with a pointing device; and displaying numerical coordinatesindicating the position of the desired area of the original specifiedwith the pointing device, and also graphically displaying the desiredarea of the original defined by the coordinate information, inaccordance with the coordinate information output in said outputtingstep, wherein, in said recording step, the image in the desired area ofthe original which is numerically and graphically displayed in saiddisplaying step, is recorded on the recording material.
 8. An imageprocessing method according to claim 7, wherein, in said displayingstep, outlines of the original and the desired area of the original aregraphically displayed.
 9. An image processing method according to claim7, wherein said displaying step is performed in such manner that thedisplay distinguishes in color the desired area from areas other thanthe desired area.
 10. An image processing method according to claim 7,wherein, in said displaying step, an area to be recorded by saidrecording means is displayed.
 11. An image processing method accordingto claim 7, wherein said recording step is performed using a laser beamprinter.
 12. An image processing method according to claim 7, whereinsaid displaying step is performed using a monitor.
 13. An imageprocessing apparatus comprising:input means for inputting image datarepresenting an original image from an image source device; output meansfor outputting image data to an image output device; designating meansfor designating an area of the original image to be processed and forproviding area information representative of the designated area;display means for, in accordance with the area information provided bysaid designating means, displaying numerical coordinates indicating theposition of the desired area of the original image specified by saiddesignating means, and graphically displaying the designated area; andprocess means for processing image data input by said input means inaccordance with the area information provided by said designating meansand for outputting the processed image data by said output means.
 14. Animage processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein said displaymeans graphically displays outlines of the original image and thedesignated area.
 15. An image processing apparatus according to claim13, wherein said display means displays the inside of the designatedarea and the outside of the designated area with mutually differentcolors.
 16. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, whereinsaid process means comprises extracting means for extracting image dataof the designated area from the image data input by said input means.17. An image processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein saiddesignating means has a pointing device and a coordinate input planecorresponding to the original image and provides coordinate informationrepresentative of the desired area with the pointing device.
 18. Animage processing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the imagesource device is a scanning device which scans the original image andgenerates the image data representing the original image.
 19. An imageprocessing apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the image outputdevice is a recording device which records an image on a recordingmaterial based on the image data.
 20. An image processing methodcomprising the steps of:inputting image data representing an originalimage from an image source device; designating an area of the originalimage to be processed; providing area information representative of thedesignated area; displaying numerical coordinates indicating theposition of the designated area of the original image designated in saiddesignating step, and graphically displaying the designated area, inaccordance with the area information provided in said providing step;processing image data input in said inputting step in accordance withthe area information provided in said providing step; and outputting theprocessed image data to an image output device.
 21. An image processingmethod according to claim 20, wherein in said displaying step, outlinesof the original image and the designated area are graphically displayed.22. An image processing method according to claim 20, wherein in saiddisplaying step the inside of the designated area and the outside of thedesignated area are displayed with mutually different colors.
 23. Animage processing method according to claim 20, wherein said processingstep comprises an extracting step of extracting image data of thedesignated area from the image data inputting by said inputting step.24. An image processing method according to claim 20, wherein, in saiddesignating step, coordinate information representative of the desiredarea is provided in accordance with an instruction generated on acoordinate input plane with a pointing device.
 25. An image processingmethod according to claim 20, wherein the image source device is ascanning device which scans the original image and generates the imagedata representing the original image.
 26. An image processing methodaccording to claim 20, wherein the image output device is a recordingdevice which records an image on a recording material based on the imagedata.